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'''Calais''' is a port town in the north west of [[France]] on the [[English channel]]. With just 34 km from the British port of [[Dover]], ''Calais'' is the closest port to mainland [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and one of the busiest cross-channel ports on continental [[Europe]]. Regular ferry services operate from '''Calais''' to [[Dover]] (''P&O'' and ''Seafrance'', each with over 20 crossings per day). The best alternative for Calais is [[Dunkerque]].Note: Dunkerque port is not in Dunkerque but a few miles out of. Also there is only a couple of ferries that leave per day from here which makes hitching difficult. == Hitching Out Hitchhiking out ==

Most people will already have bought their You can [[English channel|cross the English Channel]] to Dover for free if you find your lift before you board the ferry - tickets onlineare paid for by vehicle and ''not by passenger''. The number of limit is two for a lorry (more if there's more seats) and several with a car. While looking for a lift, '''tell people that extra passengers are free''', as many don't know about it.  The best place to start hitchhiking is on probably the ticket and parking lot near the ticket inspectors sometimes go crazy if office. Ask people before they buy their tickets, since they have to declare the number of passengers when buying the ticket. This is good because you can show that you're not a drug smuggler, and can explain that there's no charge for extra passengers. The drawback is that many people parked here will just be waiting to pick up foot passengers due to arrive on a boat. Also, most drivers headed to England will have bought their tickets in advance and will not come through here. Tip: wait INSIDE of the ticket doesn't match with office (the number of staff dont care) and ask people as they walk in if they are driving, and if they will take you. Most people will be foot passengers but some are drivers who are getting a last minute ticket. This is important as everyone must declare how many car passengers they have in advance, so of you hitch a car you will be adding to that number which will end up costing £10 at the cargate. Catching people before they have brought their ticket therefore is essential. Usually telling people you “just want a lift onto the ferry, that’s all” works a treat.

Besides Experiences with waiting by the ferries there is also side of the road are mixed; some people getting picked up after ten minutes, others waiting the entire day without success. Ask around the tunnel as a possibility parking lot before trying to get overthumb your way through. Cars and lorries get loaded onto a train which takes them over. The price A good place to stand is also next to the same for each vehicle, not matter how many persons speed bumps that cars go over as they are in the carapproaching passport control.However, it is very difficult to get a ride at Stand between the tunnel entrance itself, because the road has about 15 two lanes coming directly from and you'll be visible to cars going straight to the motoway, the cars are ferry as well as those going quite fast and to the drivers will concentrate ticket office. Keep on finding their correct laneyour toes, so most of them wonthough; this isn't see you. Also the staff is quite unfriendly and you will be sent away (remember though that this also applies if you try safest place to hitch too much into the port. Most people are being told that hitching by the tunnel entrance is illegal (which is probably doubtful)stand.

So '''Hitchhiking with bikes across the ferry Channel''' is definitely possible! Some people reported finding a lift in vans and mobile homes after waiting about 1 hour with their bikes at the much better option but whatever option, it is definitely better parking lot and next to the speed bumps. It could be an exceptional luck... More positive reports are needed to manage its crossing 'before' arriving in Calaisrely on this possibility.

'''Important to knowLifts: You can easily change cars in the trucks park in harbour terminal, after ticket and passport control and before boarding the ferry so close that it's not possible (you will usually have 40 minutes). Find a lift before coming to open Calais, and you might well have some time before the doors. That means that ferry leaves, especially so if you'll spend more than 1.5 hour closed in a box ve come with a stranger lorry. Use this time well, walk around the huge parking areas (which is perfectly fine) and the driver talk to as many people waiting for their ferries as you can only take . You'll often be able to get a better lift, especially one person legally - and they going past London if you're going north. Changing rides after the first ticket check your IDs but before getting on the entrance so none of them will take the ferry comes with slight risk of ask you'd be getting into a fine therecar that doesn't have you listed on their ticket. I However, [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] followed said strategy successfully in May 2011 - P&O don't know if it is like this check the tickets again as you enter the ferry (only as you enter the port), Seafrance ''might''. It might be a bad idea to let the vehicle that brought you into the port in the first place cross without you, in the case that somebody checks the number of passengers on the ticket while boarding the ferry. You can also switch cars while on every the ferry and all the timeavoid this problem, but ityou just won's not recommended t have quite as much time to do so. Tip: the crossing takes about 1.5 hours. Walk around the ferry, go with any trucks on up onto the deck. Chat to people and find out where they are going. This is the best time to find a ferry!'''new lift.

If you do have to buy You can also get across by the [[Channel Tunnel]]. Cars and lorries get loaded onto a foot passenger tickettrain which takes them across. The price is the same for each vehicle as well, bear no matter how many persons there are in mind that the car. However, it is very difficult to get a ride at the tunnel entrance itself, because the road has tripled in price about 15 lanes coming directly from the motorway, the cars are going quite fast and the drivers will concentrate on finding their correct lane, so most of them won't see you. The staff is quite unfriendly and you will be sent away (remember though that this also applies if you try to hitch too far in the last year ferry port). Most people are being told that hitching by the tunnel entrance is illegal (!which is probably doubtful) . Also, as of 2011 there have been reports of the eurotunnel company refusing people who are identified as hitchhikers by the drivers. Davide and Oti September 2016 were identified as hitchhikers and had no problems, though, so this is now 39 eurosnot always the case. '''Just in case, ask your driver not to mention that you're hitchhiking.'''

Upon arrival There are UK passport controls in DoverCalais and if you do not have the proper papers (depending on your nationality even if you do have the right papers), UK customs you will encounter a lot of hassle, including being denied entry. Worse, the friendly driver who gave you a ride might also face delays and even fines. As with any border crossing, it helps a lot if you look respectable and clean, even if you travel on a EU or similarly accepted passport and have money (or better, a tendency credit card) to check far more cars than any other EU country, the UK is support yourself. '''UK border control will very often ask for the address where you'notre staying''' part of the [[Schengen Agreement]], so you might consider leaving the ferry as a foot-passenger have an address in mind beforehand! Any hostel, friend's house, or random address from google maps should do. Just be prepared to save your driver answer a potentially substantial delay! (Not possible if you arrived using lot of questions. "I''Norfolklines'') m gonna sleep wherever I find a nice spot to pitch my tent" is unfortunately not an acceptable answer.

If you look respectableUpon arrival in Dover, are from UK customs also have a respectable tendency to check far more cars than any other EU country, . The UK is '''not''' part of the [[USASchengen Agreement]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], to name a few, so you are unlikely to have any problems entering might consider leaving the UK, even ferry as a hitchhiker. Show a passport from [[Somalia]], [[Pakistan]] or [[Iran]], foot-passenger to name save your driver a few that are somewhat less respectable in the eyes of the UK government, expect lots of hassle, including being denied entrypotentially substantial delay! (This is not possible if you arrived using ''Norfolklines''. )

If you think you will fall Personal experience: I tried in August 2011 to hitch a ride onto the latter categoryP&O ferry to Dover, you might consider spending and I had no problem getting a ride. I checked the money US Dept. of State webpage beforehand to buy see what was required for entry into the UK, and it says only a foot-passenger valid passport. However, the Home Office agents denied me (returna US citizen with a valid passport) ticket yourself to avoid causing trouble because I didn't have set travel plans with addresses/reservations where I would be staying (including for your driverthat very night), although that does not in any way reduce a ticket out of the risk that you're denied entry either in France country, proof of employment, or upon arrival in Doverbank statements. Note theres I'm not foot-passenger ferries during the nightsure what of that would have sufficed, till 6-7am but having none of it and the terminal building is closed for nightbeing a hitchhiker definitely did me in.

As with any border crossing, it helps if === South towards Paris ===If you look respectable, 're coming from the ferries and you don't manage to get a ride to [[Paris]], then get ANY ride from the boat and get off at the first service station to change there. It'even''' if you come s very difficult to get a ride from Calais as most people at intersections/on-ramps are not leaving the EU town. I spent maybe 6 or respectable countries, and have money 7 hours trying to get a ride with no luck (or better, a credit cardJuly 2017) . I got the train to support yourselfÉtaples and had much better luck the following day.

The first service station after Calais is 60km (!) away. Some cars stop there (not too many) and it seems more people are going to the direction of [[Reims]] than towards [[Paris]]. There is another service station some 20km further down the same highway (20km before [[DunkerqueArras]] ), but it is much smaller and much more quiet. (Lots of trucks there, but the truckers are all sleeping). Be advised that employees at such small places will most likely speak no English. If your driver is extremely kind, or if you find someone living in Arras who might be an alternative willing to cross make the Channel. extra effort, there is another service station at ''NorfolklinesWancourt'' sails , some 10km away from Arras on the A1 highway in the direction of Paris. (There is a bridge so that cars can change direction if your driver is not actually going towards Paris, although your driver will have to drop you off some 300m before the station in order to be able to [[Dover]]turn around, otherwise there'''s no turning point closer to the station.) Mostly trucks stop here, almost all of them to sleep, but does not carry foot-passengers''' there should be a few cars and sailings it is highly likely that any cars stopping here are less frequenton their way to Paris. There is a place to get some food and a toilet, only every two hoursbut other than that it's not a massive service station.

Near Calais on To get out of the motorwayferry terminal, few kilometres from the ferryport, there best trick is to follow the signs for the motorway to Lille and eventually you'll get to a huge ''lorry park'' from big roundabout with the road leading uphill with a bay where you vehicles can easily get direct lifts stop next to many places the "no pedestrians" signs that all over Europe ([[Belgium]], [[Netherlands]], [[England]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Spain]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Austria]] the other hitchers have written all about :) stand by the signs and [[Turkey]] should be easily possible).Be aware that you'll get a truck is legally only allowed brave trucker to have one driver stop for you. Almost all car traffic heads south Paris way, and one passenger, so it's a lot harder nightmare getting back onto the motorway if you come off there, so try to find flag down someone with a ride for two people hitching togethersign saying D or PL.If Standing at the roundabout itself is quite tragic as you are just hitching will be watching migrants trying to get into [[Belgium]] you're probably better off finding a ride while on the ferry, England constantly running up and down trying to sneak into a petrol station in [[Belgium]]truck.

[[User:Alexanderanderson|Alexanderanderson]] says: It is now (2016) very difficult to get picked up at this roundabout, due to the refugee situation. I waited an unbelievable 16 hours, and heard somebody else, more recently, got moved on by police. It also hard to get any truckers to pick you up in any of the lorry parks around. Would advise to get to a petrol station, or better yet to not stop in Calais at all and just get through in any direction before finding another ride. If you're coming off the ferry, get your ride out the other side when you're on there or waiting to board. If you're going far and/or don't care about speed so much, there a huge ''lorry park'' on the motorway a few kilometres from Calais from where you can easily get direct lifts to many places all over Europe ([[Belgium]], [[Netherlands]], [[England]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Spain]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Austria]] and [[Turkey]] should easily be possible). Be aware that a truck is legally only allowed to have one driver and one passenger (except if there's more seats), so it's a lot harder to find a ride for two people hitching together. If you are just hitching into [[Belgium]] you're probably better off finding a ride while on the ferry, to a petrol station in [[Belgium]].  Turkish lorry drivers are often very kind and help you searching for a lift. You often ask one of them and he talks to all his fellow countrymen – you often ask all of them by asking one, and end up having dinner with them :-). Their German is often better than their English but they really try to do their best to communicate.

The best trick is You can also get out of the city centre towards the highway N°16 next to walk out the ferry terminalMcDonalds at Rue Gutenberg (bus stop Galerie Saint Pierre, bus #02). Don't stay directly at the McD, and follow but go through the signs for tunnel under the motorway to Lille highway and eventually you'll be on a big roundabout with stand right in the road leading uphill with a bay bend that vehicles leads the cars directly onto the highway. Cars are not too fast here and can stop on next easily - most of them will go to the "no people" signs that all the other hitchers have written all over :Dunkerque (Dunkirk) stand by the signs and you'll get a brave trucker stop for you. Almost all car traffic head south Paris wise, and its a nightmare getting back on the motorway if you come off therewant to cross the borders to Belgium, so try it could be better to flag someone wait for a car that goes straight until De Panne or Ostende. At Dunkirk the situation with migrants is similar to Calais and it is possible to wait there very long at the highway for a sign saying D or PLnext lift (updated 2019).

== Extra information ==* When on the ferry try to find the Commercial Drivers Restaurant on one of the floors. From there If you can get in, you'll get a free drink(hot chocolate, tea, coffee, soft drink), however if you wish to buy food it will cost you.

* Whilst waiting in the queue for your time to board the ferry, after the passport check, you can try to change rides in order to get on onto an earlier boator to a better destination. Just walk around asking people that have an earlier leaving time than yours. Since you passed the passport check , they should not be afraid to take you. You can see it the departure time on the paper that is usually on their car or truck windows. This can save you a lot of time.

* You can also change rides inside the ferry, especially when it has arrived in the port and people are getting to their cars and waiting to exit. Just go around looking at number plates and asking around. Hurry, though, you don't want to be left on foot when all the cars are leaving.